New Mexicos Radiation Education and Awareness Program REAP

1
New Mexicos Radiation Education and Awareness
Program (REAP)
2
WESTERN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION WIPP
Transportation Technical Advisory Group New
Mexicos Radiation Education and Awareness
Program (REAP) Debra N. Thrall PhD September
28, 2004
3
WERC, (established in 1990) is a consortium of
universities and national laboratories whose
members include - New Mexico State
University (NMSU) - Diné College
- University of New Mexico (UNM)
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology (NMIMT) - Los Alamos
National Laboratory (LANL) - Sandia
National Laboratories (SNL)
4
WERC has over 200 program affiliate
members, including representatives from
government, industry, academia, national
laboratories, NGOs and retirees. Through
education, technology development,
technology transfer, and public outreach,
WERC's mission is to expand the nation's
resources for addressing issues related to
the environment and human health.
5
REAP Timeline 2002-2003 New Mexico Energy
Minerals and Natural Resources Department and
the University of New Mexico/WERC entered into
a Governmental Services Agreement
6
The purpose of REAP was to

• to increase knowledge and improve education
  regarding environmental
  radiation issues.

7
REAP consisted of four deliverables.
1. Development of a nuclear traveling trunk

• Integration of existing standards-basedmodules
  into a model radiation curriculum

3. Development of a introductory web-based course
4. Community outreach seminars
REAP was directed at teachers, fifth through
eighth grade students and NM residents.
8
Deliverable 1-
Development of a nuclear traveling trunk
9

• Created two traveling trunks each with
•  
• 1 Teachers Geiger Counter
• 16 Geiger Counters for Students
• 16 Rutherford Boards
• 50 marbles
• 16 sets of alpha, beta, gamma sources
• 160 cardboard sheets (5 cm x 5 cm) for shielding
• 70 thin lead sheets (5 cm x 5 cm) for shielding
• 40 thick lead sheets (5 cm x 5 cm) for shielding
• 16 Am-241 alpha sources
• 16 Radioactive marbles (yellowish-green)
• Lantern Mantle and strings (Radioactive
  and Non-radioactive)
• Fiesta Ware (Radioactive and
  Non-radioactive)

10

• Glitter powder and UV light stick
• chalk
• poster board
• Radon daughter cards
• package of 500 puzzle pieces
• 16 packages of WIPP salt
• 65 Ping Pong balls
• 2 Three Ring Binders with Resource Material
• 1 Three Ring Binders with Guidance Curriculum and
  Master Activity Sheets
• Video Splitting Atoms An Electrifying
  Experience
• Books Understanding Nuclear Waste
• Nuclear Power Victim or Villain
• America the Powerless

11
Deliverable 2 -
Integration of existing standards-based modules
into a model radiation curriculum
12
Radiation and Environmental Awareness
Curriculum(REACT)
SECTION I -- SEEING THE UNSEEN. SECTION II
-- RADIATION SECTION III -- RADIATION
EXPOSURE/SHIELDING SECTION IV -- EVIDENCE OF
RADIATION SECTION V -- HALF LIFE AND DECAY
CHAINS SECTION VI -- BENEFICIAL USES OF
RADIATION SECTION VII -- HANDLING NUCLEAR
MATERIALS
13
SECTION I SEEING THE UNSEEN
Objectives A. Describe the steps in the
scientific method B. Describe how to see
things we cant see C.1. Define atoms, parts of
atoms (neutrons, electrons, protons) and
relative sizes C.2. Define nucleus, isotopes, Z,
and A C.3. Discuss the periodic table and how it
is organized
Activities Page and Trunk Contents I.1 Intro to
Scientific Method I.2 Mystery Box I.3
Rutherford Boards 16 boards and 50 marbles in
trunk
14
SECTION II RADIATION

• Objectives
• Distinguish between ionizing and non-ionizing
  radiation
• Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and its
  components
• C. Identify the three types of radiation and
  describe the differences among them
• D. Describe how radiation is detected.
• E. Discuss the history of radiation

Activities Page and Trunk ContentsII.1 Geiger
Counters 16 student counters and one teachers
counter in trunk II.2 Hide and Seek
Puzzle Tray Geiger counters in trunk
15
SECTION III RADIATION EXPOSURE AND SHIELDING
Objective A. Explain that radiation is natural
and is present everywhere. 1. background
radiation, 2. exposure, dose, annual
values 3. risk of exposure (in perspective) B.
Name the three principles of radiation
protection. C. Use shielding to distinguish
among the types of radiation
Activities Page and Trunk ContentsIII.1
Background Measurement, ZAV Geiger counters in
trunk III.2 How Much Radiation Am I
Getting? III.3 Perception of Risk III.4
Radiation Safari radioactive sources in
trunk III.5 Alpha, Beta, and Gamma
sources/shielding materials in trunk
16
SECTION IV - EVIDENCE OF RADIATION
Objectives A. Identify the process necessary
to make radiation trails visible B. Distinguish
among radiation, radioactivity, irradiation,
and contamination.
Activities Page and Trunk Contents IV.1 Cloud
Chamber IV.2 Glitter Powder Powder, chalk, and
black light in trunk.
17
SECTION V - HALF LIFE AND DECAY CHAINS
Objectives A. Describe what a half-life is
and know that radioactive material will
eventually decay away and become
non-radioactive. B. Describe what a decay chain
is and how each isotope in a chain is related to
the others C. Discuss the sources of Radon, how
it affects humans, and what you can do about it.
Activities Page and Trunk ContentsV.1 Flip
Out V.2 Half-Life of Paper/Licorice V.3 Coins,
Balloons V.4 Demo on Radioactive Decay
Chains V.5 Radon Daughters - cards will be in
trunk
18
SECTION VI BENEFICIAL USES OF RADIATION
Objectives A. Identify four beneficial uses
of radiation B. Describe the process used by
nuclear power plants to create electricity
Activities Page and Trunk ContentsVI.1 What is
Fission VI.2 Critical Mass VI.3 Changing Heat
Into Motion
19
SECTION VII - HANDLING NUCLEAR MATERIALS
Objectives A. Define the five different
categories of radioactive waste and
provide examples of each type. B. Discuss
options for containing, transporting, storing,
and disposing of radioactive waste.
Activities Page and Trunk ContentsVII.1 Waste
Sorting Puzzle Pieces in trunk VII.2 Egg Drop
20
Activities
21
Questions?
Anne deLain W. ClarkCoordinator NM Radioactive
Waste Consultation Task ForceNM Energy Minerals
and Natural Resources Department Wk -
505-476-3224 Fx - 505-476-3220
AClark_at_state.nm.us
Debra N. Thrall, PhD WERC Professional
Development Coordinator University of New
Mexico Wk - 505-277-0718 
Fx - 505-277-6227dthrall_at_unm.edu